Lyrics

Verse 1:A D AHis daddy was a honest man, a red dirt Georgia farmerEHis mama lived a short life having kids and bailing hayA D AHe had fifteen years of ache inside to wanderE AHe jumped a freight in Waycross and wound up in L.A.

Verse 2:A D AThe cold nights had no pity on that Waycross Georgia farm boyEMost days he went hungry, then the summer cameA D AHe met a girl known on the strip as San Francisco Mabel JoyE ADestitutions child born on an L.A. street called shame

Verse 3:D AGrowing up came quietly in the arms of Mabel JoyELaughter found their mornings it brought new meaning to his lifeD AThe night before she left sleep came and found that Waycross country boyE AWith dreams of Georgia cotton and California wine

Verse 4:D ASunday morning found him beneath the red light at her doorEA right cross sent him reeling and put him face down on the floorD AInplace of Mabel Joy he found a merchant mad marineEHe said your Georgia neck is red, but sonny you're still green

Verse 5:A D AHe turned twenty-one in grey rock federal prisonEThe judge had no mercy on this Waycross, Georgia boyA D AStaring at those four grey wall in silence, Lord he listenedETo the midnight freight he knew could take him back to Mabel Joy

Verse 6:D ASunday morning found him beneath the red light at her doorEWith a bullet in his side he cried, have you seen Mabel JoyD AStunned and shaken someone said she don't live here no moreEShe left this house four years ago she was looking forDSome Georgia farm boy

Music on this site is licensed by Acum/CISAC Ltd: A member of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, and of BIEM -International Bureau of Societies administering Mechanical Rights.Photos by Getty Images